Effects of HIV/AIDS on food security in Kilolo district, Iringa, Tanzania
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Date
2010
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Publisher
Sokoine University of Agriculture
Abstract
This study examined impact of HIV/AIDS on household food security in Kilolo District.
Specifically, the study identified socio-economic problems associated with HIV/AIDS
and food security; determined the differences in bahaviour with regard to food security
between the affected and non-affected households and ascertained the existence of
known linkages between HIV/AIDS and households food insecurity in Kilolo District.
Data were collected through interviews using structured questionnaires for households
and checklist for key informants. Purposive sampling technique was used to obtain 154
households (77 affected and 77 non-affected) and 10 key informants. Findings have
ascertained the main linkages of HIV/AIDS and households food security by comparing
the affected and non-affected households in the following: more burden of dependants
among affected (72.7%) compared to non-affected (51.9%); Lack of agricultural
knowledge (66.2% compared to 46.7%); Not using improved agricultural inputs (64.5%
compared to 37.3%); Produce no crop (14.3% compared to 2.6%); Decreased land
cultivated (48.1% compared to 11.7%); Shifted from mixed farming to single crop
(36.1% compared to 5.3%). Others are: bigger proportion has higher category of
expenditure on treatment (53.2% compared to 32.4%); fewer do invest on agriculture and
education (19.5% compared to 50.7%). Greater proportion reported greatest category of
time lost for caring the sick (32.5% compared to 7.8%, of non-affected); also more
children pulled out of school for caring the sick family members (15.6% compared to
only 1.3% of non-affected). Other socio-economic problems that affect the HIV affected
households more than the non-affected include; increased number of orphans, child
labour, selling of household’s assets, and failure to participate in community activities. It
is recommended that efforts should be made to provide labour saving technologies,
appropriate knowledge on agriculture, income generating activities and access to credits
to the affected households.
Description
Master's Theses
Keywords
HIV/AIDS-household food security, Household food security, Kilolo District, Iringa, Tanzania